Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Irene Khan has called for ensuring human rights, equality and non-discrimination in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), urg-ing the international community to harness emerging technologies for sustainable development rather than allowing them to fuel hatred and violence.
“Bangladesh is committed to building a world where the diversity and dignity of all people are upheld, both online and offline,” she said at a high-level UN event on Monday marking the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA), according to a press release received in Dhaka yesterday.
Ambassador Irene Khan said the DDPA made a clear commitment some 25 years back that no one should face discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin.
“Yet, the world remains far from fulfilling that commitment,” she said, reaffirming Bangladesh’s strong com-mitment to the full and effective implementation of the DDPA.
She called for strengthening justice, education, development and international cooperation to address struc-tural inequalities stemming from slavery, colonialism and other historical injustices.
Irene Khan also underscored the need for strengthening protection of the rights of migrants, refugees, forcibly displaced people, minorities, women, children and people in vulnerable situations.
